Image sensor including color separating lens array and electronic apparatus including the image sensor

ABSTRACT

Provided are an image sensor including a color separating lens array and an electronic apparatus. The image sensor includes: a sensor substrate including a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels, wherein each of the first pixels includes a plurality of photosensitive cells that are two-dimensionally arranged in a first direction and a second direction, and, a first pixel of a first group includes a first edge region and a second edge region that are arranged at opposite edges of the first pixel in the first direction and outputs first and second photosensitive signals with respect to the light incident on the first and second edge regions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0054630, filed on Apr. 27,2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Provided are an image sensor including a color separating lens arraycapable of focusing incident light separately according to wavelengthsof the incident light, and an electronic apparatus including the imagesensor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Image sensors generally sense the color of incident light by using acolor filter. However, a color filter may have low light utilizationefficiency because the color filter absorbs light of colors other thanthe corresponding color of light. For example, when an RGB color filteris used, only ⅓ of the incident light is transmitted and the other, thatis, ⅔ of the incident light, is absorbed. Thus, the light utilizationefficiency is only about 33%. Thus, in a color display apparatus or acolor image sensor, most light loss occurs in the color filter.

SUMMARY

Provided are an image sensor having improved light utilizationefficiency by using a color separating lens array capable of focusingincident light separately according to wavelengths of the incidentlight, and an electronic apparatus including the image sensor.

Also, provided are an image sensor capable of improving an auto-focusingperformance while including a color separating lens array, and anelectronic apparatus including the image sensor.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an imagesensor including: a sensor substrate including a plurality of firstpixels configured to sense light of a first wavelength and a pluralityof second pixels configured to sense light of a second wavelength thatis different from the first wavelength; and a color separating lensarray configured to condense the light of the first wavelength onto theplurality of first pixels and condense the light of the secondwavelength onto the plurality of second pixels, wherein each of thefirst pixels includes a plurality of photosensitive cells that aretwo-dimensionally arranged in a first direction and a second directionperpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of photosensitivecells being configured to independently sense incident light, and fromamong the plurality of first pixels, a first pixel of a first groupincludes a first edge region and a second edge region that are arrangedat opposite edges of the first pixel in the first direction, the firstpixel of the first group being configured to output a firstphotosensitive signal and a second photosensitive signal with respect tothe incident light on the first edge region and the second edge region.

A distance between the first edge region and the second edge region inthe first direction may be equal to or greater than a width of the firstedge region in the first direction.

The first pixel of the first group may be further configured to output athird photosensitive signal with respect to light incident on a regionbetween the first edge region and the second edge region.

The first pixel of the first group may be further configured to notoutput a photosensitive signal with respect to light incident on aregion between the first edge region and the second edge region.

The plurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the firstgroup may include a first photosensitive cell and a secondphotosensitive cell that are arranged in the first direction.

Each of the first photosensitive cell and the second photosensitive cellmay include a first photodiode and a second photodiode that are arrangedin the first direction, the first photodiode of the first photosensitivecell may be arranged in the first edge region and the second photodiodeof the second photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edge region,and the first pixel of the first group may be configured to output thefirst photosensitive signal from the first photodiode of the firstphotosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal from the secondphotodiode of the second photosensitive cell.

Each of the first photosensitive cell and the second photosensitive cellmay include one photodiode, and the first pixel of the first group mayinclude a mask pattern configured to block a first remaining region inthe photodiode of the first photosensitive cell, the first remainingregion being different from the first edge region in a light-receivingsurface of the photodiode of the first photosensitive cell, andconfigured to block a second remaining region in the photodiode of thesecond photosensitive cell, the second remaining region being differentfrom the second edge region in a light-receiving surface of thephotodiode of the second photosensitive cell.

The plurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the firstgroup may include a first photosensitive cell, a second photosensitivecell, and a third photosensitive cell that are sequentially arranged inthe first direction.

Each of the first photosensitive cell, the second photosensitive celland the third photosensitive cell may include one photodiode, the firstphotosensitive cell may be arranged in the first edge region and thethird photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edge region, and thefirst pixel of the first group may be configured to output the firstphotosensitive signal from the first photosensitive cell and the secondphotosensitive signal from the third photosensitive cell.

Each of the first photosensitive cell and third photosensitive cell mayinclude a first photodiode and a second photodiode that are arranged inthe first direction, the first photodiode of the first photosensitivecell may be arranged in the first edge region and the second photodiodeof the third photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edge region,and the first pixel of the first group may be configured to output thefirst photosensitive signal from the first photodiode of the firstphotosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal from the secondphotodiode of the third photosensitive cell.

The plurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the firstgroup may include a first photosensitive cell, a second photosensitivecell, a third photosensitive cell, and a fourth photosensitive cell thatare sequentially arranged in the first direction.

Each of the first photosensitive cell, the second photosensitive cell,the third photosensitive cell and fourth photosensitive cell may includeone photodiode, the first photosensitive cell may be arranged in thefirst edge region and the fourth photosensitive cell is arranged in thesecond edge region, and the first pixel of the first group may beconfigured to output the first photosensitive signal from the firstphotosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal from the fourthphotosensitive cell.

Each of the first photosensitive cell, the second photosensitive cell,the third photosensitive cell and fourth photosensitive cell may includea first photodiode and a second photodiode that are arranged in thefirst direction, the first photodiode of the first photosensitive cellmay be arranged in the first edge region and the second photodiode ofthe fourth photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edge region,and the first pixel of the first group may be configured to output thefirst photosensitive signal from the first photodiode of the firstphotosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal from the secondphotodiode of the fourth photosensitive cell.

From among the plurality of first pixels, a first pixel of a secondgroup may include a third edge region and a fourth edge region that arearranged at opposite edges of the first pixel of the second group in thesecond direction and is configured to output a third photosensitivesignal with respect to light incident on the third edge region and afourth photosensitive signal with respect to light incident on thefourth edge region.

The plurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the secondgroup may include a first photosensitive cell, a second photosensitivecell, and a third photosensitive cell that are sequentially arranged inthe second direction, each of the first photosensitive cell, the secondphotosensitive cell and the third photosensitive cell may include onephotodiode, the first photosensitive cell is arranged in the third edgeregion and the third photosensitive cell may be arranged in the fourthedge region, and the first pixel of the second group may be configuredto output the third photosensitive signal from the first photosensitivecell and the fourth photosensitive signal from the third photosensitivecell.

From among the plurality of first pixels, a first pixel of a third groupmay include a first apex region and a second apex region at oppositesides in a diagonal direction, the first pixel of the third group may beconfigured to output a fifth photosensitive signal with respect to lightincident on the first apex region and sixth photosensitive signal withrespect to light incident on the second apex region.

The plurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the thirdgroup may include a first photosensitive cell at a first apex of thefirst pixel, a second photosensitive cell adjacent to the firstphotosensitive cell in the first direction, a third photosensitive celladjacent to the first photosensitive cell in the second direction, afourth photosensitive cell arranged at a second apex of the first pixel,a fifth photosensitive cell adjacent to the fourth photosensitive cellin the first direction, and a sixth photosensitive cell adjacent to thefourth photosensitive cell in the second direction, each of the firstphotosensitive cell, the second photosensitive cell, the third,photosensitive cell, the fourth photosensitive cell, the fifthphotosensitive cell and the sixth photosensitive cell include onephotodiode, the first photosensitive cell, the second photosensitivecell, and the third photosensitive cell are arranged in the first apexregion and the fourth photosensitive cell, the fifth photosensitivecell, and the sixth photosensitive cell are arranged in the second apexregion, and the first pixel of the third group is configured to outputthe fifth photosensitive signal from the first photosensitive cell, thesecond photosensitive cell, the third, photosensitive cell and the sixthphotosensitive signal from the fourth photosensitive cell, the fifthphotosensitive cell, and the sixth photosensitive cell.

In an entire area of the image sensor, the first pixel of the firstgroup may be arranged in a first region in the first direction, thefirst pixel of the second group is arranged in a second region in thesecond direction, and the first pixel of the third group is arranged ina third region in the diagonal direction.

A distance between the sensor substrate and the color separating lensarray may be about 30% to about 70% of a focal distance of the colorseparating lens array with respect to the light of the first wavelength.

The image sensor may further include a spacer layer arranged between thesensor substrate and the color separating lens array to form a distancebetween the sensor substrate and the color separating lens array.

The color separating lens array may include a first wavelength lightcondensing region configured to condense the light of the firstwavelength onto the first pixels and a second wavelength lightcondensing region configured to condense the light of the secondwavelength onto the second pixels, and an area of the first wavelengthlight condensing region is greater than an area of the first pixel amongthe plurality of first pixels and an area of the second wavelength lightcondensing region is greater than an area of a second pixel among theplurality of second pixels, and the first wavelength light condensingregion partially overlaps the second wavelength light condensing region.

The color separating lens array may include: a first pixel regionarranged at a position corresponding to each of the first pixels; and asecond pixel region arranged at a position corresponding to each of thesecond pixels, wherein a difference between phases of the light of thefirst wavelength that has passed through a center of the first pixelregion and the light of the first wavelength that has passed through thesecond pixel region is about 0.9π to about 1.1π.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided anelectronic apparatus including: an image sensor configured to convert anoptical image into an electrical signal; a processor configured tocontrol operations of the image sensor and to store and output a signalgenerated by the image sensor; and a lens assembly for providing lightfrom an object to the image sensor, wherein the image sensor includes: asensor substrate including a plurality of first pixels configured tosense light of a first wavelength and a plurality of second pixelsconfigured to sense light of a second wavelength that is different fromthe first wavelength; and a color separating lens array configured tocondense the light of the first wavelength onto the plurality of firstpixels and condense the light of the second wavelength onto theplurality of second pixels, wherein each of the first pixels includes aplurality of photosensitive cells that are two-dimensionally arranged ina first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, the plurality of photosensitive cells being configured toindependently sense incident light, and from among the plurality offirst pixels, a first pixel of a first group includes a first edgeregion and a second edge region that are arranged at opposite edges ofthe first pixel in the first direction, the first pixel of the firstgroup being configured to output a first photosensitive signal and asecond photosensitive signal with respect to the incident light on thefirst edge region and the second edge region, and the processor isfurther configured to generate an auto-focusing signal based on adifference between the first and second photosensitive signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainembodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image sensor according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams showing examples of various pixelarrangements in a pixel array of an image sensor;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are conceptual diagrams showing a structure andoperations of a color separating lens array according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of a pixel array in an imagesensor according to an embodiment, seen from different cross-sections;

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a pixel arrangement in a pixel array,FIG. 5B is a plan view showing an example of an of arrangement aplurality of nanoposts in a plurality of regions of a color separatinglens array, and FIG. 5C is a plan view showing an enlarged view of apart of FIG. 5B;

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing phase profiles of green light and bluelight that have passed through a color separating lens array along lineI-I′ of FIG. 5B, FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a phase of the green lightthat has passed through the color separating lens array at a center ofpixel corresponding regions, and FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a phase ofblue light that has passed through the color separating lens array atthe center of pixel corresponding regions;

FIG. 6D is a diagram showing an example of a traveling direction ofgreen light incident on a first green light condensing region, and FIG.6E is a diagram showing an example of an array of the first green lightcondensing region;

FIG. 6F is a diagram showing an example of a traveling direction of bluelight incident on a blue light condensing region, and FIG. 6G is adiagram showing an example of an array of the blue light condensingregion;

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing phase profiles of red light and green lightthat have passed through a color separating lens array along line II-II′of FIG. 5B, FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a phase of the red light thathas passed through the color separating lens array at a center of pixelcorresponding regions, and FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a phase of greenlight that has passed through the color separating lens array at thecenter of pixel corresponding regions;

FIG. 7D is a diagram showing an example of a traveling direction of redlight incident on a red light condensing region, and FIG. 7E is adiagram showing an example of an array of the red light condensingregion;

FIG. 7F is a diagram showing an example of a traveling direction ofgreen light incident on a second green light condensing region, and FIG.7G is a diagram showing an example of an array of the second green lightcondensing region;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing another example of the colorseparating lens array;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for describing the relationship between athickness of a spacer layer and a region where the light is condensed;

FIGS. 10A to 100 are diagrams showing examples of a distribution changeof light incident on a pixel array of an image sensor, according to achange in a distance between the pixel array of the image sensor and alens, for describing principles of an auto-focusing function;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of light distribution formed ona sensor substrate when light is obliquely incident on the pixel arrayof the image sensor;

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an exemplary structure of a pixel arrayof an image sensor according to an embodiment, for providing anauto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusing method;

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an exemplary structure of a pixel arrayof an image sensor according to another embodiment, for providing anauto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusing method;

FIGS. 14A to 14C are graphs showing a contrast ratio of an output signalaccording to a change in an incident angle in an embodiment and acomparative example;

FIGS. 15 to 21 are plan views showing an exemplary structure of a pixelarray of an image sensor according to another embodiments, for providingan auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusing method;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus including an imagesensor according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a camera module in FIG. 22; and

FIGS. 24 to 33 are diagrams showing various examples of an electronicapparatus to which an image sensor according to one or more embodimentsis applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the exampleembodiments may have different forms and should not be construed asbeing limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, theembodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, toexplain aspects. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressionssuch as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify theentire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of thelist.

Hereinafter, an image sensor including a color separating lens array andan electronic apparatus including the image sensor will be described indetail with reference to accompanying drawings. The embodiments of thedisclosure are capable of various modifications and may be embodied inmany different forms. In the drawings, like reference numerals denotelike components, and sizes of components in the drawings may beexaggerated for convenience of explanation.

When a layer, a film, a region, or a panel is referred to as being “on”another element, it may be directly on/under/at left/right sides of theother layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present.

It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various components, these componentsshould not be limited by these terms. These components are only used todistinguish one component from another. These terms do not limit thatmaterials or structures of components are different from one another.

An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of theplural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. Itwill be further understood that when a portion is referred to as“comprises” another component, the portion may not exclude anothercomponent but may further comprise another component unless the contextstates otherwise.

In addition, the terms such as “ . . . unit”, “module”, etc. providedherein indicates a unit performing at least one function or operation,and may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardwareand software.

The use of the terms of “the above-described” and similar indicativeterms may correspond to both the singular forms and the plural forms.

Also, the steps of all methods described herein may be performed in anysuitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. Also, the use of all exemplary terms (forexample, etc.) is only to describe a technical spirit in detail, and thescope of rights is not limited by these terms unless the context islimited by the claims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image sensor 1000 according to anexample embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the image sensor 1000 mayinclude a pixel array 1100, a timing controller (T/C) 1010, a rowdecoder 1020, and an output circuit 1030. An image sensor 1000 mayinclude a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementarymetal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

The pixel array 1100 includes pixels that are two-dimensionally arrangedin a plurality of rows and columns. The row decoder 1020 selects one ofthe rows in the pixel array 1100 in response to a row address signaloutput from the timing controller 1010. The output circuit 1030 outputsa photosensitive signal, in a column unit, from a plurality of pixelsarranged in the selected row. To this end, the output circuit 1030 mayinclude a column decoder and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Forexample, the output circuit 1030 may include a column decoder and aplurality of ADCs arranged respectively for the columns in the pixelarray 1100 or one ADC arranged at an output end of the column decoder.The timing controller 1010, the row decoder 1020, and the output circuit1030 may be implemented as one chip or in separate chips. A processorfor processing an image signal output from the output circuit 1030 maybe implemented as one chip with the timing controller 1010, the rowdecoder 1020, and the output circuit 1030.

The pixel array 1100 may include a plurality of pixels that sense lightof different wavelengths. The pixel arrangement may be implemented invarious ways. For example, FIGS. 2A to 2C show various pixelarrangements in the pixel array 1100 of the image sensor 1000.

FIG. 2A shows a Bayer pattern that is generally adopted in the imagesensor 1000. Referring to FIG. 2A, one unit pattern includes fourquadrant regions, and first through fourth quadrants may be the bluepixel B, the green pixel G, the red pixel R, and the green pixel G,respectively. The unit patterns may be repeatedly and two-dimensionallyarranged in a first direction (X direction) and a second direction (Ydirection). In other words, two green pixels G are arranged in onediagonal direction and one blue pixel B and one red pixel R are arrangedin another diagonal direction in a unit pattern of a 2×2 array. In theentire arrangement of pixels, a first row in which a plurality of greenpixels G and a plurality of blue pixels B are alternately arranged inthe first direction and a second row in which a plurality of red pixelsR and a plurality of green pixels G are alternately arranged in thefirst direction are repeatedly arranged in a second direction.

The pixel array 1100 may be arranged in various arrangement patterns,rather than the Bayer pattern. For example, referring to FIG. 2B, a CYGMarrangement, in which a magenta pixel M, a cyan pixel C, a yellow pixelY, and a green pixel G configure one unit pattern, may be used. Also,referring to FIG. 2C, an RGBW arrangement, in which a green pixel G, ared pixel R, a blue pixel, and a white pixel W configure one unitpattern, may be used. According to another example embodiment, the unitpattern may have a 3×2 array form. In addition to the above examples,the pixels in the pixel array 1100 may be arranged in various waysaccording to color characteristics of the image sensor 1000.Hereinafter, it will be described that the pixel array 1100 of the imagesensor 1000 has a Bayer pattern, but the operating principles may beapplied to other patterns of pixel arrangement than the Bayer pattern.

The pixel array 1100 of the image sensor 1000 may include a colorseparating lens array for condensing light of a color corresponding toeach pixel. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a structure andoperations of the color separating lens array.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a color separating lens array CSLA may include aplurality of nanoposts NP that change a phase of incident light Lidifferently from incident locations thereof. The color separating lensarray CSLA may be partitioned in various ways. For example, the colorseparating lens array CSLA may be partitioned as a first pixelcorresponding region R1 corresponding to a first pixel PX1 on whichfirst wavelength light L_(λ1) included in the incident light Li iscondensed, and a second pixel corresponding region R2 corresponding to asecond pixel PX2 on which second wavelength light L_(λ2) included in theincident light Li is condensed. Each of the first and second pixelcorresponding regions R1 and R2 may include one or more nanoposts NP,and the first and second pixel corresponding regions R1 and R2 mayrespectively face the first and second pixels PX1 and PX2. In anotherexample, the color separating lens array CSLA may be partitioned as afirst wavelength light condensing region L1 for condensing the firstwavelength light L_(λ1) onto the first pixel PX1 and a second wavelengthlight condensing region L2 for condensing the second wavelength lightL_(λ2) onto the second pixel PX2. The first and second wavelength lightcondensing regions L1 and L2 may partially overlap each other.

The color separating lens array CSLA may generate different phaseprofiles of the first wavelength light L_(λ1) and the second wavelengthlight L_(λ2) included in the incident light Li so that the firstwavelength light L_(λ1) may be condensed onto the first pixel PX1 andthe second wavelength light L_(λ2) may be condensed onto the secondpixel PX2.

According to an example embodiment, referring to FIG. 3B, the colorseparating lens array CSLA may allow the first wavelength light L_(λ1)to have a first phase profile PP1 and the second wavelength light L_(λ2)to have a second phase profile PP2 at a position immediately afterpassing through the color separating lens array CSLA, e.g., on a lowersurface of the color separating lens array CSLA, such that the firstwavelength light L_(λ1) and the second wavelength light L_(λ2) may berespectively condensed on the corresponding first pixel PX1 and thesecond pixel PX2. In detail, the first wavelength light L_(λ1) that haspassed through the color separating lens array CSLA may have the firstphase profile PP1 that is largest at the center of the first pixelcorresponding region R1 and reduces away from the center of the firstpixel corresponding region R1, that is, toward the second pixelcorresponding regions R2. Such a phase profile is similar to a phaseprofile of light converging to one point after passing through a convexlens, e.g., a micro-lens having a convex center in the first wavelengthlight condensing region L1, and the first wavelength light L_(λ1) may becondensed onto the first pixel PX1. Also, the second wavelength lightL_(λ2) that has passed through the color separating lens array CSLA hasthe second phase profile PP2 that is largest at the center of the secondpixel corresponding region R2 and reduces away from the center of thesecond pixel corresponding region R2, e.g., toward the first pixelcorresponding regions R1, and thus, the second wavelength light L_(λ2)may be condensed onto the second pixel PX2.

Because a refractive index of a material varies depending on awavelength of light, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the color separating lensarray CSLA may provide different phase profiles with respect to thefirst and second wavelength light L_(λ1) and L_(λ2). In other words,because the same material has a different refractive index according tothe wavelength of light reacting to the material and a phase delay ofthe light that passes through the material is different according to thewavelength, the phase profile may vary depending on the wavelength. Forexample, a refractive index of the first pixel corresponding region R1with respect to the first wavelength light L_(λ1) and a refractive indexof the first pixel corresponding region R1 with respect to the secondwavelength light L_(λ2) may be different from each other, and the phasedelay of the first wavelength light L_(λ1) that passed through the firstpixel corresponding region R1 and the phase delay of the secondwavelength light L_(λ2) that passed through the first pixelcorresponding region R1 may be different from each other. Therefore,when the color separating lens array CSLA is designed based on thecharacteristics of light, different phase profiles may be provided withrespect to the first wavelength light L_(λ1) and the second wavelengthlight L_(λ2).

The color separating lens array CSLA may include nanoposts NP that arearranged according to a certain rule such that the first and secondwavelength light L_(λ1) and L_(λ2) may respectively have the first andsecond phase profiles PP1 and PP2. Here, the rule may be applied toparameters, such as the shape of the nanoposts NP, sizes (width andheight), a distance between the nanoposts NP, and the arrangement formthereof, and these parameters may be determined according to a phaseprofile to be implemented by the color separating lens array CSLA.

A rule in which the nanoposts NP are arranged in the first pixelcorresponding region R1, and a rule in which the nanoposts NP arearranged in the second pixel corresponding region R2 may be differentfrom each other. In other words, sizes, shapes, intervals, and/orarrangement of the nanoposts NP in the first pixel corresponding regionR1 may be different from those of the nanoposts NP in the second pixelcorresponding region R2.

A cross-sectional diameter of the nanoposts NP may have sub-wavelengthdimension. Here, the sub-wavelength refers to a wavelength that is lessthan a wavelength band of light to be branched. The nanoposts NP mayhave a dimension that is less than a shorter wavelength of the firstwavelength and the second wavelength. When the incident light Li is avisible ray, the cross-sectional diameter of the nanoposts NP may beless than, for example, 400 nm, 300 nm, or 200 nm. In addition, a heightof the nanoposts NP may be about 500 nm to about 1500 nm, which isgreater than the cross-sectional diameter. According to an exampleembodiment, the nanoposts NP may be obtained by combining two or moreposts stacked in a height direction (Z direction).

The nanoposts NP may include a material having a higher refractive indexthan that of a peripheral material. For example, the nanoposts NP mayinclude c-Si, p-Si, a-Si and a Group III-V compound semiconductor (GaP,GaN, GaAs etc.), SiC, TiO₂, SiN, and/or a combination thereof. Thenanoposts NP having a different refractive index from the refractiveindex of the peripheral material may change the phase of light thatpasses through the nanoposts NP. This is caused by phase delay thatoccurs due to the shape dimension of the sub wavelength of the nanopostsNP, and a degree at which the phase is delayed, may be determined by adetailed shape dimension and arrangement shape of the nanoposts NP. Aperipheral material of the nanoposts NP may include a dielectricmaterial having a lower refractive index than that of the nanoposts NP.For example, the peripheral material may include SiO₂ or air.

A first wavelength λ1 and a second wavelength λ2 may be in a wavelengthband of infrared rays and visible rays. However, the disclosure is notlimited thereto, and as such, according to another example embodiment, avariety of wavelength bands may be implemented according to the rule ofarrays of the plurality of nanoposts NP. Also, two wavelengths arebranched and condensed as an example. However, the disclose is notlimited thereto, and as such, according to another example embodiment,the incident light may be branched into three directions or moreaccording to wavelengths and condensed.

Also, the color separating lens array CSLA includes one single layer,but the color separating lens array CSLA may have a structure in which aplurality of layers are stacked. For example, a first layer may condensethe visible ray to a certain pixel and a second layer may condense theinfrared ray to another pixel.

Hereinafter, an example in which the color separating lens array CSLAdescribed above is applied to the pixel array 1100 of the image sensor1000.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the pixel array 1100 in theimage sensor 1000 seen from different sections, FIG. 5A is a plan viewshowing an arrangement of pixels in the pixel array 1100 of the imagesensor 1000, FIG. 5B is a plan view showing an example in which aplurality of nanoposts are arranged in a plurality of regions of thecolor separating lens array in the pixel array 1100 of the image sensor1000, and FIG. 5C is a plan view showing an enlarged view of a part inFIG. 5B.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the pixel array 1100 in theimage sensor 1000 seen from different sections. According to an exampleembodiment, the different sections may be sections illustrated in FIG.5A. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pixel array 1100 of the imagesensor 1000 includes a sensor substrate 110 including a plurality ofpixels 111, 112, 113, and 114 for sensing light, a transparent spacerlayer 120 disposed on the sensor substrate 110, and a color separatinglens array 130 on the spacer layer 120.

The sensor substrate 110 may include a first green pixel 111, a bluepixel 112, a red pixel 113, and a second green pixel 114 that convertlight into electrical signals. In addition, the first green pixel 111and the blue pixel 112 are alternately arranged in a first direction (Xdirection), and in a different cross-section taken along the Ydirection, the red pixel 113 and the second green pixel 114 may bealternately arranged as shown in FIG. 4B. FIG. 5A shows the arrangementof pixels when the pixel array 1100 of the image sensor 1000 has theBayer pattern arrangement as shown in FIG. 2A. Such above arrangement isprovided for separately sensing the incident light with unit patternssuch as the Bayer pattern, for example, the first and second greenpixels 111 and 114 may sense green light, the blue pixel 112 may senseblue light, and the red pixel 113 may sense red light. Although notshown in the drawings, a separator for separating cells may be furtherformed on a boundary between cells.

Referring to FIG. 5A, some or all of the pixels 111, 112, 113, and 114may each include four or more photosensitive cells, and four or morephotosensitive cells included in one pixel may share the lightcondensing regions of the color separating lens array. When a pluralityof photosensitive cells that may independently sense light are includedin one pixel, a resolution of the image sensor may be improved. Inaddition, an auto-focusing function of the image sensor 1000 and/or acamera device including the image sensor 1000 may be implemented byusing differences among signals obtained from the photosensitive cells.According to an example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A, when all ofthe green, blue, and red pixels 111, 112, 113, and 114 each include fourphotosensitive cells, the first green pixel 111 includes 1-1st to 1-4th(i.e., a first group of first to fourth) green light sensing cells 111a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d, the blue pixel 112 includes first to fourthblue light sensing cells 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d, the red pixel113 includes first to fourth red light sensing cells 113 a, 113 b, 113c, and 113 d, and the second green pixel 114 includes 2-1st to 2-4th(i.e., a second group of first to fourth) green light sensing cells 114a, 114 b, 114 c, and 114 d.

The spacer layer 120 is arranged between the sensor substrate 110 andthe color separating lens array 130 in order to maintain a distancebetween the sensor substrate 110 and the color separating lens array 130constant. The spacer layer 120 may include a material transparent withrespect to the visible ray, for example, a dielectric material having alower refractive index than that of the nanoposts NP and low absorptioncoefficient in the visible ray band, e.g., SiO₂, siloxane-based spin onglass (SOG), etc. A thickness 120 h of the spacer layer 120 may bedetermined based on a focal distance of the light condensed by the colorseparating lens array 130, for example, may be about ½ of a focaldistance of the light of a reference wavelength λ₀ as described later. Afocal distance f of the reference wavelength light λ₀ condensed by thecolor separating lens array 130 may be expressed by equation 1 below,when a refractive index of the spacer layer 120 with respect to thereference wavelength λ₀ is n and a pitch between pixels is p.

$f = {\frac{{np}^{2}}{\lambda_{0}} - \frac{\lambda_{0}}{4n}}$

Assuming that the reference wavelength λ₀ is 540 nm, e.g., green light,the pitch among the pixels 111, 112, 113, and 114 is 0.8 μm, and arefractive index n of the spacer layer 120 at the wavelength of 540 nmis 1.46, the focal distance f of the green light, that is, a distancebetween a lower surface of the color separating lens array 130 and apoint where the green light is converged, is about 1.64 μm and athickness 120 h of the spacer layer 120 may be about 0.82 μm. In anotherexample, assuming that the reference wavelength λ₀ is 540 nm, e.g.,green light, the pitch among the pixels 111, 112, 113, and 114 is 1.2μm, and a refractive index n of the spacer layer 120 at the wavelengthof 540 nm is 1.46, the focal distance f of the green light is about 3.80μm and the thickness 120 h of the spacer layer 120 may be about 1.90 μm.

In other words, the thickness 120 h of the spacer layer 120 describedabove may be about 70% to about 120% of the pixel pitch when the pixelpitch is about 0.5 μm to about 0.9 μm, and may be about 110% to about180% of the pixel pitch when the pixel pitch is about 0.9 μm to about1.3 μm.

The color separating lens array 130 may include the nanoposts NPsupported by the spacer layer 120 and changing a phase of the incidentlight, and a dielectric material between the nanoposts NP and having arefractive index less than that of the nanoposts NP, e.g., air or SiO₂.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the color separating lens array 130 may bepartitioned into four pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134corresponding to the pixels 111, 112, 113, and 114 of FIG. 5A. A firstgreen pixel corresponding region 131 corresponds to the first greenpixel 111 and may be on the first green pixel 111 in a verticaldirection, a blue pixel corresponding region 132 corresponds to the bluepixel 112 and may be on the blue pixel 112 in the vertical direction, ared pixel corresponding region 133 corresponds to the red pixel 113 andmay be on the red pixel 113 in the vertical direction, and a secondgreen pixel corresponding region 134 corresponds to the second greenpixel 114 and may be on the second green pixel 114 in the verticaldirection. That is, the pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and134 of the color separating lens array 130 may be arranged respectivelyfacing the pixels 111, 112, 113, and 114 of the sensor substrate 110 inthe vertical direction. The pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133,and 134 may be two-dimensionally arranged in the first direction (Xdirection) and the second direction (Y direction) such that a first rowin which the first green pixel corresponding region 131 and the bluepixel corresponding region 132 are alternately arranged and a second rowin which the red pixel corresponding region 133 and the second greenpixel corresponding region 134 are alternately arranged are alternatelyrepeated. The color separating lens array 130 includes a plurality ofunit patterns that are two-dimensionally arranged like the pixel arrayof the sensor substrate 110, and each of the unit patterns includes thepixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134 arranged in a 2×2array.

In addition, similar to the above description with reference to FIG. 3B,the color separating lens array 130 may be partitioned as a green lightcondensing region for condensing the green light, a blue lightcondensing region for condensing the blue light, and a red lightcondensing region for condensing the red light.

The color separating lens array 130 may include the nanoposts NP, ofwhich sizes, shapes, intervals, and/or arrangements are defined, suchthat the green light is separated and condensed to the first and secondgreen pixels 111 and 114, the blue light is separately condensed to theblue pixel 112, and the red light is separately condensed to the redpixel 113. In addition, a thickness of the color separating lens array130 in a third direction (Z direction) may be similar to heights of thenanoposts NP, and may be about 500 nm to about 1500 nm.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and134 may include the nanoposts NP having cylindrical shapes each having acircular cross-section. In a center portion of each region, thenanoposts NP having different cross-sectional areas are arranged, andthe nanoposts NP may be also arranged at the center on a boundarybetween pixels and a crossing point between the pixel boundaries.

FIG. 5C shows the arrangement of the nanoposts NP included in partialregions of FIG. 5B, that is, the pixel corresponding regions 131, 132,133, and 134 in the unit pattern. In FIG. 5C, the nanoposts NP areindicated by 1 to 5 according to sizes of the cross-section of the unitpattern. Referring to FIG. 5C, from among the nanoposts NP, a nanopost 1having the largest cross-sectional area is at the center of the bluepixel corresponding region 132, and nanoposts 5 having the smallestcross-sectional area may be arranged around the nanopost 1 and nanoposts3 and at centers of the first and second green pixel correspondingregions 131 and 134. However, the disclosure is not limited to the aboveexample, and as, according to another example embodiment, the nanopostsNP having various shapes, sizes, and arrangement may be applied.

The nanoposts NP included in the first and second green pixelcorresponding regions 131 and 134 may have different distribution rulesin the first direction (X direction) and the second direction (Ydirection). For example, the nanoposts NP arranged in the first andsecond green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134 may have differentsize arrangements in the first direction (X direction) and the seconddirection (Y direction). As shown in FIG. 5C, from among the nanopostsNP, a cross-sectional area of a nanopost 4 located at a boundary betweenthe first green pixel corresponding region 131 and the blue pixelcorresponding region 132 that is adjacent to the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 in the first direction (X direction) isdifferent from that of the nanoposts 5 located at a boundary between thefirst green pixel corresponding region 131 and the red pixelcorresponding region 133 that is adjacent to the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 in the second direction (Y direction).Likewise, a cross-sectional area of the nanopost 5 located at a boundarybetween the second green pixel corresponding region 134 and the redpixel corresponding region 133 that is adjacent to the second greenpixel corresponding region 134 in the first direction (X direction) isdifferent from that of the nanopost 4 located at a boundary between thesecond green pixel corresponding region 134 and the blue pixelcorresponding region 132 that is adjacent to the second green pixelcorresponding region 134 in the second direction (Y direction).

On the other hand, the nanoposts NP arranged in the blue pixelcorresponding region 132 and the red pixel corresponding region 133 mayhave symmetrical arrangement rules in the first direction (X direction)and the second direction (Y direction). As shown in FIG. 5C, from amongthe nanoposts NP, the cross-sectional area of the nanoposts 4 at aboundary between the blue pixel corresponding region 132 and adjacentpixels in the first direction (X direction) and the cross-sectionalareas of the nanoposts 4 at a boundary between the blue pixelcorresponding region 132 and the adjacent pixels in the second direction(Y direction) are the same as each other, and in the red pixelcorresponding region 133, the cross-sectional areas of the nanoposts 5at a boundary between adjacent pixels in the first direction (Xdirection) and the cross-sectional areas of the nanoposts 5 at aboundary between the adjacent pixels in the second direction (Ydirection) are the same as each other.

The above distribution due to the pixel arrangement in the Bayerpattern. Adjacent pixels to the blue pixel 112 and the red pixel 113 inthe first direction (X direction) and the second direction (Y direction)are the green pixels G, whereas the adjacent pixel to the first greenpixel 111 in the first direction (X direction) is the blue pixel 112 andadjacent pixel to the first green pixel 111 in the second direction (Ydirection) is the red pixel R. In addition, the adjacent pixel to thesecond green pixel 114 in the first direction (X direction) is the redpixel 113 and the adjacent pixel to the second green pixel 114 in thesecond direction (Y direction) is the blue pixel 112. In addition,adjacent pixels to the first and second green pixels 111 and 114 in fourdiagonal directions are green pixels, adjacent pixels to the blue pixel112 in the four diagonal directions are the red pixels 113, and adjacentpixels to the red pixel 113 in the four diagonal directions are the bluepixels 112. Therefore, in the blue and red pixel corresponding regions132 and 133 respectively corresponding to the blue pixel 112 and the redpixel 113, the nanoposts NP may be arranged in the form of 4-foldsymmetry, and in the first and second green pixel corresponding regions131 and 134, the nanoposts NP may be arranged in the form of 2-foldsymmetry. In particular, the first and second green pixel correspondingregions 131 and 134 are rotated by 90° angle with respect to each other.

The plurality of nanoposts NP have symmetrical circular cross-sectionalshapes in FIGS. 5B and 5C. However, some nanoposts having asymmetricalcross-sectional shapes may be included. For example, the first andsecond green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134 may adopt nanopostshaving asymmetrical cross-sections, each of which has different widthsin the first direction (X direction) and the second direction (Ydirection), and the blue and red pixel corresponding regions 132 and 133may adopt nanoposts having symmetrical cross-sections, each of which hasthe same widths in the first direction (X direction) and the seconddirection (Y direction). The arrangement rule of the nanoposts NP is anexample, and is not limited thereto.

FIG. 6A shows phase profiles of the green light and the blue light thathave passed through the color separating lens array 130 in line I-I′ ofFIG. 5B, FIG. 6B shows the phase of the green light that has passedthrough the color separating lens array 130 at centers of the pixelcorresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134, and FIG. 6C shows thephase of the blue light that has passed through the color separatinglens array 130 at the centers of the pixel corresponding regions 131,132, 133, and 134. The phase profiles of the green light and the bluelight shown in FIG. 6A are similar to those of the first and secondwavelength light exemplary shown in FIG. 3B.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the green light that has passed throughthe color separating lens array 130 may have a first green light phaseprofile PPG1 that is the largest at the center of the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 and is reduced away from the center of thefirst green pixel corresponding region 131. In detail, immediately afterpassing through the color separating lens array 130, that is, at a lowersurface of the color separating lens array 130 or an upper surface ofthe spacer layer 120, the phase of the green light is the largest at thecenter of the first green pixel corresponding region 131 and is reducedas a concentric circle away from the center of the first green pixelcorresponding region 131. Thus, the phase is the smallest at the centersof the blue and red pixel corresponding regions 132 and 133 in the X andY directions, and at contact points between the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 and the second green pixel corresponding region134 in the diagonal direction. When a phase of the green light is set as27 based on the phase of light emitted from the center of the firstgreen pixel corresponding region 131, the light having a phase of about0.9π to about 1.1π may be emitted from the centers of the blue and redpixel corresponding regions 132 and 133, and the light having a phase ofabout 1.1π to about 1.5π may be emitted from a contact point between thefirst green pixel corresponding region 131 and the second green pixelcorresponding region 134. Therefore, a difference between the phase ofthe green light that has passed through the center of the first greenpixel corresponding region 131 and the phase of the green light that haspassed through the centers of the blue and red pixel correspondingregions 132 and 133 may be about 0.9π to about 1.1π.

In addition, according to an example embodiment, the first green lightphase profile PPG1 does not denote that the phase delay amount of thelight that has passed through the center of the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 is the largest. Instead, when the phase oflight that has passed through the first green pixel corresponding region131 is 2π and a phase delay amount of the light that has passed throughanother point is greater and has a phase value of 2π or greater, thefirst green light phase profile PPG1 may denote a value remaining aftersubtracting 2 nπ, that is, a wrapped phase profile. For example, whenthe phase of light that has passed through the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 is 2π and the phase of light that has passedthrough the center of the blue pixel corresponding region 132 is 3π, thephase in the blue pixel corresponding region 132 may be remaining πafter subtracting 2π(n=1) from 3π.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6C, the blue light that has passed through thecolor separating lens array 130 may have a blue light phase profile PPBthat is the largest at the center of the blue pixel corresponding region132 and is reduced away from the center of the blue pixel correspondingregion 132. In detail, immediately after passing through the colorseparating lens array 130, the phase of the blue light is the largest atthe center of the blue pixel corresponding region 132 and is reduced asthe concentric circle away from the center of the blue pixelcorresponding region 132, the phase is the smallest at the centers ofthe first and second green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134 inthe X direction and the Y direction and is the smallest at the center ofthe red pixel corresponding region 133 in the diagonal direction. Whenthe phase of the blue light at the center of the blue pixelcorresponding region 132 is 2π, the phase at the centers of the firstand second green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134 may be about,for example, 0.9π to about 1.1π, and the phase at the center of the redpixel corresponding region 133 may be less than that at the centers ofthe first and second green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134, forexample, about 0.5 π to about 0.9π.

FIG. 6D shows an example of a traveling direction of green lightincident on a first green light condensing region, and FIG. 6E shows anexample of an array of the first green light condensing region.

As shown in FIG. 6D, the green light incident on the vicinity of thefirst green pixel corresponding region 131 is condensed to the firstgreen pixel 111 by the color separating lens array 130, and the greenlight from the blue and red pixel corresponding regions 132 and 133, inaddition to the first green pixel corresponding region 131, is alsoincident on the first green pixel 111. That is, according to the phaseprofile of the green light described above with reference to FIGS. 6Aand 6B, the green light that has passed through a first green lightcondensing region GL1 that is obtained by connecting centers of two bluepixel corresponding regions 132 and two red pixel corresponding regions133 that are adjacent to the first green pixel corresponding region 131is condensed onto the first green pixel 111. Therefore, as shown in FIG.6E, the color separating lens array 130 may operate as a first greenlight condensing region array for condensing the green light onto thefirst green pixel 111. The first green light condensing region GL1 mayhave a greater area than that of the corresponding first green pixel111, e.g., may be 1.2 times to twice greater.

FIG. 6F shows an example of a traveling direction of blue light incidenton a blue light condensing region, and FIG. 6G shows an example of anarray of the blue light condensing region.

The blue light is condensed onto the blue pixel 112 by the colorseparating lens array 130 as shown in FIG. 6F, and the blue light fromthe pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134 is incident onthe blue pixel 112. In the phase profile of the blue light describedabove with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6C, the blue light that has passedthrough a blue light condensing region BL that is obtained by connectingcenters of four red pixel corresponding regions 133 adjacent to the bluepixel corresponding region 132 at apexes is condensed onto the bluepixel 112. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6G, the color separating lensarray 130 may operate as a blue light condensing region array forcondensing the blue light to the blue pixel. The blue light condensingregion BL has an area greater than that of the blue pixel 112, e.g., maybe 1.5 to 4 times greater. The blue light condensing region BL maypartially overlap the first green light condensing region GL1 describedabove, and a second green light condensing region GL2 and a red lightcondensing region RL.

FIG. 7A shows phase profiles of the green light and the blue light thathave passed through the color separating lens array 130 in line II-II′of FIG. 5B, FIG. 7B shows the phase of the red light that has passedthrough the color separating lens array 130 at centers of the pixelcorresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134, and FIG. 7C shows thephase of the green light that has passed through the color separatinglens array 130 at the centers of the pixel corresponding regions 131,132, 133, and 134.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7C, the red light that has passed through thecolor separating lens array 130 may have a red light phase profile PPRthat is the largest at the center of the red pixel corresponding region133 and is reduced away from the center of the red pixel correspondingregion 133. In detail, immediately after passing through the colorseparating lens array 130, the phase of the red light is the largest atthe center of the red pixel corresponding region 133 and is reduced asthe concentric circle away from the center of the red pixelcorresponding region 133, the phase is the smallest at the centers ofthe first and second green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134 inthe X direction and the Y direction and is the smallest at the center ofthe blue pixel corresponding region 132 in the diagonal direction. Whenthe phase of the red light at the center of the red pixel correspondingregion 133 is 2π, the phase at the centers of the first and second greenpixel corresponding regions 131 and 134 may be about, for example, 0.9πto about 1.1π, and the phase at the center of the blue pixelcorresponding region 132 may be less than that at the centers of thefirst and second green pixel corresponding regions 131 and 134, forexample, about 0.6 π to about 0.9π.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the green light that has passed throughthe color separating lens array 130 may have a second green light phaseprofile PPG2 that is the largest at the center of the second green pixelcorresponding region 134 and is reduced away from the center of thesecond green pixel corresponding region 134. When comparing the firstgreen light phase profile PPG1 of FIG. 6A with the second green lightphase profile PPG2 of FIG. 7A, the second green light phase profile PPG2is obtained by moving in parallel with the first green light phaseprofile PPG1 by one-pixel pitch in the X direction and the Y direction.That is, the first green light phase profile PPG1 has the largest phaseat the center of the first green pixel corresponding region 131, but thesecond green light phase profile PPG2 has the largest phase at thecenter of the second green pixel corresponding region 134 that is apartby one-pixel pitch from the center of the first green pixelcorresponding region 131 in the X direction and the Y direction. Thephase profiles in FIGS. 6B and 7C showing the phases at the centers ofthe pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134 may be the sameas each other. Regarding the phase profile of the green light based onthe second green pixel corresponding region 134, when the phase of thegreen light emitted from the center of the second green pixelcorresponding region 134 is set as 27, the light having the phase ofabout 0.9π to about 1.1π may be emitted from the centers of the blue andred pixel corresponding regions 132 and 133 and the light having thephase of about 1.1π to about 1.5π may be emitted from the contact pointbetween the first green pixel corresponding region 131 and the secondgreen pixel corresponding region 134.

FIG. 7D shows an example of a traveling direction of red light incidenton a red light condensing region, and FIG. 7E shows an example of anarray of the red light condensing region.

The red light is condensed onto the red pixel 113 by the colorseparating lens array 130 as shown in FIG. 7D, and the red light fromthe pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134 is incident onthe red pixel 113. In the phase profile of the red light described abovewith reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the red light that has passed througha red light condensing region RL that is obtained by connecting centersof four blue pixel corresponding regions 132 adjacent to the red pixelcorresponding region 133 at apexes is condensed onto the red pixel 113.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7E, the color separating lens array 130 mayoperate as a red light condensing region array for condensing the redlight to the red pixel. The red light condensing region RL has an areagreater than that of the red pixel 113, e.g., may be 1.5 to 4 timesgreater. The red light condensing region RL may partially overlap thefirst and second green light condensing regions GL1 and GL2 and the bluelight condensing region BL.

Referring to FIGS. 7F and 7G, the green light incident on the vicinityof the second green pixel corresponding region 134 travels similarly tothe green light incident on the vicinity of the first green pixelcorresponding region 131, and as shown in FIG. 7F, the green light iscondensed onto the second green pixel 114. Therefore, as shown in FIG.7G, the color separating lens array 130 may operate as a second greenlight condensing region array for condensing the green light onto thesecond green pixel 114. The second green light condensing region GL2 mayhave a greater area than that of the corresponding second green pixel114, e.g., may be 1.2 times to twice greater.

The color separating lens array 130 satisfying the above phase profileand performance described above may be automatically designed throughvarious types of computer simulations. For example, the structures ofthe pixel corresponding regions 131, 132, 133, and 134 may be optimizedthrough a nature-inspired algorithm such as a genetic algorithm, aparticle swarm optimization algorithm, an ant colony optimizationalgorithm, etc., or a reverse design based on an adjoint optimizationalgorithm.

The structures of the green, blue, and red pixel corresponding regionsmay be optimized while evaluating performances of a plurality ofcandidate color separating lens arrays based on evaluation factors suchas color separation spectrum, optical efficiency, signal-to-noise ratio,etc. when designing the color separating lens array. For example, thestructures of the green, blue, and red pixel corresponding regions maybe optimized in a manner that a target numerical value of eachevaluation factor is determined in advance and the sum of thedifferences from the target numerical values of a plurality ofevaluation factors is reduced. Alternatively, the performance may beindexed for each evaluation factor, and the structures of the green,blue, and red pixel corresponding regions may be optimized so that avalue representing the performance may be maximized.

The color separating lens array 130 shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C is anexample, and the color separating lens arrays of various shapes may beobtained through the above-described optimized design according to thesize and thickness of the color separating lens array, a colorcharacteristic, the pixel pitch of the image sensor to which the colorseparating lens array is to be applied, a distance between the colorseparating lens array and the image sensor, an incident angle of theincident light, etc. Also, the color separating lens array may beimplemented by other various patterns, instead of the nanoposts. Forexample, FIG. 8A is a plan view exemplarily showing a shape of a unitpattern in a color separating lens array according to another exampleembodiment, which may be applied to an image sensor of Bayer patterntype, and FIG. 8B is a plan view exemplarily showing a shape of a unitpattern in a color separating lens array according to another exampleembodiment.

Each of pixel corresponding regions 131 a, 132 a, 133 a, and 134 a in acolor separating lens array 130 a shown in FIG. 8A is optimized in adigitalized binary form of 16×16 rectangular arrays, and the unitpattern of FIG. 8A has a shape of 32×32 rectangular arrays. Unlike theabove example, each of pixel corresponding regions 131 b, 132 b, 133 b,and 134 b in a color separating lens array 130 b shown in FIG. 8B may beoptimized in a non-digitalized continuous curve shape.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for describing the relationship between athickness of a spacer layer and a region where the light is condensed.

FIG. 9A is a diagram for describing a region where the blue light iscondensed, when a thickness of the spacer layer is similar to a focaldistance of the blue light condensing region. Referring to FIG. 9A, theblue light may be condensed onto a blue light focused region FRB that isindicated as a circle at the center of the blue pixel 112. In this case,many of photons condensed onto the blue light focused region FRB areincident on barrier walls between photosensitive cells 112 a, 112 b, 112c, and 112 d, and photons incident on the barrier walls are reflected orscattered so as not to be sensed by the photosensitive cells. Thus, thismay be a cause of degradation in an optical efficiency of a sensorsubstrate 110.

FIG. 9B is a diagram for describing a region where the blue light iscondensed, when a thickness of the spacer layer is about ½ of a focaldistance of the blue light condensing region. Referring to FIG. 9B, theblue light may be condensed on a corrected blue light focused regionFRB′ having an enlarged area as compared with the blue light focusedregion FRB of FIG. 9A. In particular, the blue light may be concentratedon light concentration portions LC that are indicated as circles at thecenters of the photosensitive cells 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d. Inthe corrected blue light focused region FRB′, more light is incident onthe center portions of the photosensitive cells 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and112 d as compared with the blue light focused region FRB of FIG. 9A, andless light is incident on the center of the blue pixel 112 where thebarrier walls intersect each other. Thus, the light utilizationefficiency may be improved.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, an example in which the blue light is focused on theblue pixel 112 due to the blue light condensing region of the colorseparating lens array is described, but the same principle may apply tothe green light and the red light. Therefore, when the pixels of theimage sensor include a plurality of photosensitive cells that aretwo-dimensionally arranged, the thickness of the spacer layer 120, thatis, the distance between the color separating lens array 130 and thesensor substrate 110, may be about 30% to about 70%, or about 40% toabout 60% of the focal distance of the color separating lens array 130with respect to the reference wavelength light, in order not to degradethe light utilization efficiency of the sensor substrate 110. In detail,the thickness of the spacer layer 120, that is, the distance between thecolor separating lens array 130 and the sensor substrate 110, may beabout 110% to about 180% of the pixel pitch when the pixel pitch of thesensor substrate 110 is about 0.9 μm to about 1.3 μm, or may be about70% to about 120% of the pixel pitch of the sensor substrate 110 whenthe pixel pitch of the sensor substrate 110 is about 0.5 μm to about 0.9μm.

As described above, when one pixel includes the plurality ofphotosensitive cells, an auto-focusing function may be implemented byusing the difference among the signals obtained from the respectivephotosensitive cells. FIGS. 10A to 10C are diagrams showing examples ofa distribution change of light incident on a pixel array of an imagesensor, according to a change in a distance between the pixel array ofthe image sensor and a lens, for describing principles of anauto-focusing function.

FIG. 10A shows a case in which a focal point of a lens LE is formed onthe surface of the pixel array 1100. In this case, light beams thatstart from one point on an optical axis OX at an object side of the lensLE and then respectively pass through opposite edges of the lens LE arecollected on one point on the surface of the pixel array 1100.Therefore, when the focal point is correctly formed, the light startingfrom one point and respectively passing through the opposite edges ofthe lens LE may be incident on each pixel in the pixel array 1100 withthe same intensity.

FIG. 10B shows a case in which a focal point of a lens LE is formed on afront portion of the surface of the pixel array 1100. In this case,light beams that start from one point on the optical axis OX at theobject side of the lens LE and then respectively pass through oppositeedges of the lens LE are incident on different points on the surface ofthe pixel array 1100 after passing through a focal point whileintersecting each other. For example, the light that has passed througha left edge of the lens LE is obliquely incident on one point on thesurface of the pixel array 1100, which is at a right side of the opticalaxis OX, after passing the focal point, and the light that has passedthrough a right edge of the lens LE is obliquely incident on one pointon the surface of the pixel array 1100, which is at a left side of theoptical axis OX, after passing the focal point.

FIG. 10C shows a case in which a focal point of a lens LE is formedbehind the surface of the pixel array 1100. In this case, light beamsthat start from one point on the optical axis OX at the object side ofthe lens LE and then respectively pass through opposite edges of thelens LE are incident on different points on the surface of the pixelarray 1100 before reaching the focal point. For example, the light thathas passed through a left edge of the lens LE is obliquely incident onone point on the surface of the pixel array 1100, which is at a leftside of the optical axis OX, before reaching the focal point, and thelight that has passed through a right edge of the lens LE is obliquelyincident on one point on the surface of the pixel array 1100, which isat a right side of the optical axis OX, before reaching the focal point.

Therefore, when the focal point is not correctly formed, the lightstarting from one point and passing through opposite edges of the lensLE is incident on different pixels of the pixel array 1100, as shown inFIGS. 10B and 10C. Then, in the light starting from one point, only thelight that has passed through one edge of the lens LE is obliquelyincident on each pixel.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of light distribution formed ona sensor substrate when light is obliquely incident on the pixel arrayof the image sensor. Referring to FIG. 11, when the blue light that isobliquely incident on the blue light condensing region of the colorseparating lens array 130 is focused on the blue pixel 112, four lightconcentration portions are unevenly formed in photosensitive cells 112a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d of the blue pixel 112. As compared with FIG.9B, the four light concentration portions are shifted toward the leftside, and areas or intensities of the light concentration portionsformed in left photosensitive cells 112 a and 112 c are greater thanthose of the light concentration portions formed in right photosensitivecells 112 b and 112 d. The shifting direction of the light concentrationportion and the size of the light concentration portion may varydepending on a distance between the pixel array 1100 and the focusingpoint, and a relative position of the pixel on the pixel array 1100.FIG. 11 only shows the blue light as an example, but the green light andthe red light may have the same light distribution as that of FIG. 11.

As described above, because one pixel includes a plurality ofphotosensitive cells independently sensing the light, an auto-focusingsignal may be provided in a phase-detection auto-focusing type by usingthe difference among the signals output from the plurality ofphotosensitive cells. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an exemplarystructure of a pixel array of an image sensor according to anembodiment, for providing an auto-focusing signal in a phase-detectionauto-focusing method.

Referring to FIG. 12, each of the photosensitive cells in the pixels mayinclude a first photodiode PD1 and a second photodiode PD2 arranged inthe X direction. The first photodiode PD1 and the second photodiode PD2in one photosensitive cell may output photosensitive signalsindependently from each other. In other words, each of the pixelsincludes the plurality of independent photosensitive cells, and each ofthe photosensitive cells may include two independent photodiodes PD1 andPD2. A general image signal of each photosensitive cell may be obtainedby summing the photosensitive signals of the first photodiode PD1 andthe second photodiode PD2.

In the above pixel structure, one pixel may be partitioned as oppositeedge regions that are spaced apart from each other in the X direction,and an intermediate region between the opposite edge regions. In orderto obtain a high contrast ratio, the auto-focusing signal may beobtained from a difference between the photosensitive signals outputfrom two photodiodes that are provided in the opposite edge regions thatare farthest from each other in the X direction in one pixel. Forexample, in the blue pixel 112, the first photodiode PD1 in the firstblue photosensitive cell 112 a that is provided at the left edge regionand the second photodiode PD2 of the second blue photosensitive cell 112b that is provided at the right edge region are farthest from each otherin the X direction in the blue pixel 112. Also, in the blue pixel 112,the first photodiode PD1 of the third blue photosensitive cell 112 c andthe second photodiode PD2 of the fourth blue photosensitive cell 112 dare farthest from each other in the X direction.

Therefore, the auto-focusing signal may be obtained from a differencebetween the photosensitive signal output from the first photodiode PD1of the first blue photosensitive cell 112 a and the photosensitivesignal output from the second photodiode PD2 of the second bluephotosensitive cell 112 b, in the blue pixel 112. Alternatively, theauto-focusing signal may be obtained from a difference between thephotosensitive signal output from the first photodiode PD1 of the thirdblue photosensitive cell 112 c and the photosensitive signal output fromthe second photodiode PD2 of the fourth blue photosensitive cell 112 d.Alternatively, the auto-focusing signal may be obtained from adifference between a sum of the photosensitive signals output from thefirst photodiode PD1 of the first blue photosensitive cell 112 a and thefirst photodiode PD1 of the third blue photosensitive cell 112 c and asum of the photosensitive signals output from the second photodiode PD2of the second blue photosensitive cell 112 b and the second photodiodePD2 of the fourth blue photosensitive cell 112 d.

The auto-focusing signal may be obtained in the first green pixel 111,the red pixel 113, and the second green pixel 114 in the same manner, aswell as the blue pixel 112. The auto-focusing signal may be obtainedthroughout all the pixels in the image sensor, or may be obtainedthrough some selected pixels in the image sensor.

In one pixel, two photodiodes may be provided in the intermediate regionbetween the left edge region and the right edge region. For example, inthe blue pixel 112, the second photodiode PD2 of the first bluephotosensitive cell 112 a, the first photodiode PD1 of the second bluephotosensitive cell 112 b, the second photodiode PD2 of the third bluephotosensitive cell 112 c, and the first photodiode PD1 of the fourthblue photosensitive cell 112 d may be arranged in the intermediateregion of the blue pixel 112. Therefore, the left edge region and theright edge region used to obtain the auto-focusing signal may besufficiently apart from each other. For example, the distance betweenthe left edge region and the right edge region in the X direction, thatis, a width of the intermediate region in the X direction, may be twotimes or more greater than a width of each of the left and right edgeregions in the X direction.

Each of the photodiodes provided in the intermediate region of the pixelmay output the photosensitive signal with respect to the light incidenton the intermediate region of the pixel. The photosensitive signals withrespect to the light incident on the intermediate region of the pixelmay be used to generated a general image signal. For example, in theblue pixel 112, the image signal with respect to the light incident onthe first blue photosensitive cell 112 a may be obtained from the sum ofthe photosensitive signals respectively output from the two photodiodesPD1 and PD2 in the first blue photosensitive cell 112 a. Therefore, thephotodiodes arranged in the opposite edge regions of the pixel may beused to obtain the auto-focusing signal and the general image signal,and the photodiodes arranged in the intermediate region of the pixel maynot be used to obtain the auto-focusing signal and may be only used toobtain the general image signal.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an exemplary structure of a pixel arrayof an image sensor according to another example embodiment, forproviding an auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusingmethod. Referring to FIG. 13, each of the photosensitive cells in thepixels may include only one photodiode PD. When only one photodiode PDis provided in each photosensitive cell, in order to improve thecontrast ratio of the auto-focusing signal by sensing the shift of thelight concentration portion in the photosensitive cell, a mask pattern115 that shields the light may cover a part of each photosensitive cell.In particular, when one pixel is partitioned as the opposite edgeregions spaced apart from each other in the X direction and theintermediate region between the opposite edge regions, as shown in FIG.13, the mask pattern 115 may be arranged in the intermediate regionbetween the left and right edge regions in the pixel.

For example, in the blue pixel 112, the mask pattern 115 may be arrangedso as to cover a region other than a region corresponding to the leftedge region in light-receiving surfaces of the photodiodes PD of thefirst and third blue photosensitive cells 112 a and 112 c, and to covera region other than a region corresponding to the right edge region inlight-receiving surfaces of the photodiodes PD in the second and fourthphotosensitive cells 112 b and 112 d. Then, the photosensitive signalsoutput from the first and third blue photosensitive cells 112 a and 112c are generated by the light incident on the left edge region of theblue pixel 112, and the photosensitive signals output from the secondand fourth blue photosensitive cells 112 b and 112 d are generated bythe light incident on the right edge region of the blue pixel 112.Therefore, the auto-focusing signal having high contrast ratio may beobtained from the difference between the photosensitive signals of thefirst and third blue photosensitive cells 112 a and 112 c and thephotosensitive signals of the second and fourth blue photosensitivecells 112 b and 112 d.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the light is blocked by the maskpattern 115, and thus, the blue pixel 112 does not output thephotosensitive signal with respect to the light incident on theintermediate region between the left and right edge regions. As such,the light utilization efficiency may degrade when the general imagesignal is generated. Therefore, the mask pattern 115 may be providedonly in some of the pixels in the image sensor. For example, the maskpattern 115 may be arranged in the pixels of about 1% to about 10%, orabout 2% to about 5%, of the total pixels in the image sensor. Thepixels including the mask patterns 115 may be evenly distributed in theentire area of the image sensor. The pixels that do not include the maskpatterns 115 are used to obtain the general image signal, and the pixelsincluding the mask patterns 115 may be used to obtain both the generalimage signal and the auto-focusing signal.

FIGS. 14A to 14C are graphs showing a contrast ratio of an output signalaccording to a change in an incident angle in an embodiment and acomparative example. FIG. 14A shows the contrast ratio of the outputsignals from the left and right edge regions in one pixel according tothe example embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, FIG. 14B shows acontrast ratio of the output signals from the two photodiodes arrangedadjacent to each other in the X direction in one photosensitive cell,and FIG. 14C shows a contrast ratio of the output signals from the leftand right photosensitive cells each having one photodiode. Referring toFIGS. 14A to 14C, it may be appreciated that the difference between twooutput signals is the largest in the example embodiment, in which thephotosensitive signals are output from the left and right edge regionsin one pixel. Therefore, according to the example embodiment, theauto-focusing signal having the high contrast ratio may be provided andthe auto-focusing performance of the image sensor may be improved.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, one pixel includes four photosensitive cellsarranged in a 2×2 array, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Forexample, according to another example embodiment, one pixel may include9 photosensitive cells arranged 3×3, 16 photosensitive cells arranged4×4, or more photosensitive cells.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an exemplary structure of a pixel arrayof an image sensor according to another example embodiment, forproviding an auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusingmethod. Referring to FIG. 15, one pixel may include 9 photosensitivecells in 3×3 array. In other words, three photosensitive cells aresequentially provided in the X direction and three photosensitive cellsare sequentially provided in the Y direction. Each of the plurality ofphotosensitive cells may include only one photodiode.

In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the image sensor may obtainthe auto-focusing signal from a difference between photosensitivesignals from a plurality of photosensitive cells L1, L2, and L3 arrangedat the left edge region in X direction and photosensitive signals from aplurality of photosensitive cells R1, R2, and R3 arranged at the rightedge region. A plurality of photosensitive cells arranged in theintermediate region between and left and right edge regions may be usedto generate the general image signal. In the example embodiment shown inFIG. 15, the distance between the left edge region and the right edgeregion in the X direction, that is, a width of the intermediate regionin the X direction, may be equal to or greater than a width of each ofthe left and right edge regions in the X direction.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing an exemplary structure of a pixel arrayof an image sensor according to example another embodiment, forproviding an auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusingmethod. Referring to FIG. 16, one pixel may include 16 photosensitivecells in 4×4 array. Each of the plurality of photosensitive cells mayinclude only one photodiode. In this case, the image sensor may obtainthe auto-focusing signal from a difference between photosensitivesignals from a plurality of photosensitive cells L1, L2, L3, and L4 atthe left edge region in X direction and photosensitive signals from aplurality of photosensitive cells R1, R2, R3, and R4 arranged at theright edge region. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the distancebetween the left edge region and the right edge region in the Xdirection, that is, a width of the intermediate region in the Xdirection, may be two times or more greater than a width of each of theleft and right edge regions in the X direction.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are plan views showing an exemplary structure of a pixelarray of an image sensor according to another example embodiments, forproviding an auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusingmethod. It has been described that the auto-focusing signal is obtainedfrom the pair of photosensitive cells or the pair of photodiodesarranged at the opposite edges in the X direction, but there may be thepair of photosensitive cells or the pair of photodiodes from which theauto-focusing signal is easy to be obtained according to relativeposition or a shape of an object in the image sensor.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the image sensor may obtain theauto-focusing signal from a difference between photosensitive signalsfrom a plurality of photosensitive cells D1, D2, and D3 arranged on alower edge region in the Y direction that is perpendicular to the Xdirection and photosensitive signals from a plurality of photosensitivecells U1, U2, and U3 arranged at an upper edge region in one pixel.

Also, as shown in FIG. 18, the auto-focusing signal may be obtained byusing photosensitive signals from the light incident on opposite apexregions in the diagonal direction of one pixel. Each of the pixels mayinclude a plurality of photosensitive cells C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C6arranged at opposite apex regions in a first diagonal direction in the+Y direction and −X direction and a plurality of photosensitive cellsarranged in a second diagonal direction in the +Y direction and +Xdirection. In a first apex region, a first photosensitive cell C1 at afirst apex of the pixel, a second photosensitive cell C2 adjacent to thefirst photosensitive cell C1 in the X direction, and a thirdphotosensitive cell C3 adjacent to the first photosensitive cell C1 inthe Y direction may be arranged. In a second apex region, a fourthphotosensitive cell C4 at a second apex that is opposite to the firstapex of the pixel, a fifth photosensitive cell C5 adjacent to the fourthphotosensitive cell C4 in the X direction, and a sixth photosensitivecell C6 adjacent to the fourth photosensitive cell C4 in the Y directionmay be arranged. The image sensor may obtain the auto-focusing signalfrom a difference between the photosensitive signals output from thefirst to third photosensitive cells C1, C2, and C3 and thephotosensitive signals output from the fourth to sixth photosensitivecells C4, C5, and C6 in each pixel. FIG. 18 shows that the auto-focusingsignal is obtained from the opposite apex regions in the first diagonaldirection in the +Y direction and −X direction, but the auto-focusingsignal may be obtained from opposite apex regions in the second diagonaldirection that is in the +Y direction and +X direction.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing an exemplary structure of a pixel arrayof an image sensor according to another example embodiment, forproviding an auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusingmethod. Referring to FIG. 19, the image sensor may include all thepixels shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 18. For example, the image sensor mayinclude a first group including the pixels shown in FIG. 15, a secondgroup including the pixels shown in FIG. 17, and a third group includingthe pixels shown in FIG. 18. The pixels included in the first group maybe arranged in opposite regions in the X direction in the image sensor.The pixels included in the second group may be arranged in upper andlower regions in the Y direction in the image sensor. Also, the pixelsincluded in the third group may be arranged in regions along the twodiagonal directions. In particular, the pixels arranged in the firstdiagonal direction in the +Y direction and −X direction of the imagesensor are configured to obtain the auto-focusing signal from theopposite apex regions in the first diagonal direction, and the pixelsarranged in the second diagonal direction in the +Y direction and the +Xdirection of the image sensor may be configured to obtain theauto-focusing signal from the opposite apex regions in the seconddiagonal direction.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are plan views showing an exemplary structure of a pixelarray of an image sensor according to another embodiments, for providingan auto-focusing signal in a phase-detection auto-focusing method. Inthe embodiments illustrated with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19, each ofthe pixels includes three or more photosensitive cells in the Xdirection or the Y direction, and thus, even when one photosensitivecell includes one photodiode, the auto-focusing signal having asufficiently high contrast ratio may be obtained. However, in order toobtain higher contrast ratio, the photosensitive cells arranged atopposite edges may each have two photodiodes.

Referring to FIG. 20, one pixel may include 9 photosensitive cells in3×3 array. Each of the plurality of photosensitive cells L1, L2, and L3arranged at the left side and a plurality of photosensitive cells R1,R2, and R3 arranged at the right side of one pixel may include first andsecond photodiodes PD1 and PD2 arranged in the X direction. Thephotosensitive cells between the left photosensitive cells L1, L2, andL3 and the right photosensitive cells R1, R2, and R3 may each includeonly one photodiode PD. The image sensor may obtain the auto-focusingsignal from a difference between the photosensitive signal output fromthe first photodiode PD1 that is at a left side in the leftphotosensitive cells L1, L2, and L3 and the photosensitive signal outputfrom the second photodiode PD2 that is at a right side in the rightphotosensitive cells R1, R2, and R3. In this case, the region where thefirst photodiode PD1 is arranged in the left photosensitive cells L1,L2, and L3 becomes the left edge region, and the region where the secondphotodiode PD2 is arranged in the right photosensitive cells R1, R2, andR3 becomes the right edge region. The distance between the left edgeregion and the right edge region in the X direction, that is, a width ofthe intermediate region in the X direction, may be four times or moregreater than a width of each of the left and right edge regions in the Xdirection.

Referring to FIG. 21, one pixel may include 16 photosensitive cells in4×4 array. The embodiments shown in FIG. 21 may be the same as that ofFIG. 20, except for the number of photosensitive cells. That is, theimage sensor may obtain the auto-focusing signal from a differencebetween the photosensitive signal output from the first photodiode PD1that is at a left side in the left photosensitive cells L1, L2, L3, andL4 and the photosensitive signal output from the second photodiode PD2that is at a right side in the right photosensitive cells R1, R2, R3,and R4. In this case, the width of the intermediate region in the Xdirection may be six times or more greater than the width of each of theleft and right edge regions in the X direction.

According to the image sensor 1000 including the pixel array 1100described above, light loss due to a color filter, e.g., an organiccolor filter, rarely occurs, and thus, a sufficient amount of light maybe provided to the pixels even when the pixels become smaller.Therefore, an ultra-high resolution, ultra-small, and highly sensitiveimage sensor having hundreds of millions of pixels or more may bemanufactured. Such an ultra-high resolution, ultra-small, and highlysensitive image sensor may be employed in various high-performanceoptical devices or high-performance electronic apparatuses. Theelectronic apparatuses may include, for example, smart phones, mobilephones, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptopcomputers, personal computers (PCs), a variety of portable devices,electronic apparatuses, surveillance cameras, medical camera,automobiles, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, other mobile ornon-mobile computing devices and are not limited thereto.

The electronic apparatuses may further include, in addition to the imagesensor 1000, a processor for controlling the image sensor, for example,an application processor (AP), and may control a plurality of hardwareor software elements and may perform various data processes andoperations by driving an operation system or application programs viathe processor. The processor may further include a graphic processingunit (GPU) and/or an image signal processor. When an image signalprocessor is included in the processor, an image (or video) obtained bythe image sensor may be stored and/or output by using the processor. Inaddition, the processor receives two photosensitive signals fromopposite edges spaced apart from each other in each pixel of the imagesensor, and generates the auto-focusing signal based on a differencebetween the two photosensitive signals.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic apparatusED01 including the image sensor 1000. Referring to FIG. 22, in a networkenvironment ED00, the electronic apparatus ED01 may communicate withanother electronic apparatus ED02 via a first network ED98 (short-rangewireless communication network, etc.), or may communicate with anotherelectronic apparatus ED04 and/or a server ED08 via a second network ED99(long-range wireless communication network, etc.) The electronicapparatus ED01 may communicate with the electronic apparatus ED04 viathe server ED08. The electronic apparatus ED01 may include a processorED20, a memory ED30, an input device ED50, a sound output device ED55, adisplay device ED60, an audio module ED70, a sensor module ED76, aninterface ED77, a haptic module ED79, a camera module ED80, a powermanagement module ED88, a battery ED89, a communication module ED90, asubscriber identification module ED96, and/or an antenna module ED97. Inthe electronic apparatus ED01, some (display device ED60, etc.) of theelements may be omitted or another element may be added. Some of theelements may be configured as one integrated circuit. For example, thesensor module ED76 (a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, an illuminancesensor, etc.) may be embedded and implemented in the display device ED60(display, etc.)

The processor ED20 may control one or more elements (hardware, softwareelements, etc.) of the electronic apparatus ED01 connected to theprocessor ED20 by executing software (program ED40, etc.), and mayperform various data processes or operations. As a part of the dataprocessing or operations, the processor ED20 may load a command and/ordata received from another element (sensor module ED76, communicationmodule ED90, etc.) to a volatile memory ED32, may process the commandand/or data stored in the volatile memory ED32, and may store resultdata in a non-volatile memory ED34. The processor ED20 may include amain processor ED21 (central processing unit, application processor,etc.) and an auxiliary processor ED23 (graphic processing unit, imagesignal processor, sensor hub processor, communication processor, etc.)that may be operated independently from or along with the main processorED21. The auxiliary processor ED23 may use less power than that of themain processor ED21, and may perform specified functions.

The auxiliary processor ED23, on behalf of the main processor ED21 whilethe main processor ED21 is in an inactive state (sleep state) or alongwith the main processor ED21 while the main processor ED21 is in anactive state (application executed state), may control functions and/orstates related to some (display device ED60, sensor module ED76,communication module ED90, etc.) of the elements in the electronicapparatus ED01. The auxiliary processor ED23 (image signal processor,communication processor, etc.) may be implemented as a part of anotherelement (camera module ED80, communication module ED90, etc.) that isfunctionally related thereto.

The memory ED30 may store various data required by the elements(processor ED20, sensor module ED76, etc.) of the electronic apparatusED01. The data may include, for example, input data and/or output dataabout software (program ED40, etc.) and commands related thereto. Thememory ED30 may include the volatile memory ED32 and/or the non-volatilememory ED34. The non-volatile memory ED34 may include an internal memoryED36 fixedly installed in the electronic apparatus ED01, and an externalmemory ED38 that is detachable.

The program ED40 may be stored as software in the memory ED30, and mayinclude an operation system ED42, middle ware ED44, and/or anapplication ED46.

The input device ED50 may receive commands and/or data to be used in theelements (processor ED20, etc.) of the electronic apparatus ED01, fromoutside (user, etc.) of the electronic apparatus ED01. The input deviceED50 may include a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, and/or a digital pen(stylus pen).

The sound output device ED55 may output a sound signal to outside of theelectronic apparatus ED01. The sound output device ED55 may include aspeaker and/or a receiver. The speaker may be used for a general purposesuch as multimedia reproduction or record play, and the receiver may beused to receive a call. The receiver may be coupled as a part of thespeaker or may be implemented as an independent device.

The display device ED60 may provide visual information to outside of theelectronic apparatus ED01. The display device ED60 may include adisplay, a hologram device, or a projector, and a control circuit forcontrolling the corresponding device. The display device ED60 mayinclude a touch circuitry set to sense a touch, and/or a sensor circuit(pressure sensor, etc.) that is set to measure a strength of a forcegenerated by the touch.

The audio module ED70 may convert sound into an electrical signal orvice versa. The audio module ED 70 may acquire sound through the inputdevice ED50, or may output sound via the sound output device ED55 and/ora speaker and/or a headphone of another electronic apparatus (electronicapparatus ED02, etc.) connected directly or wirelessly to the electronicapparatus ED01.

The sensor module ED76 may sense an operating state (power, temperature,etc.) of the electronic apparatus ED01, or an outer environmental state(user state, etc.), and may generate an electrical signal and/or datavalue corresponding to the sensed state. The sensor module ED76 mayinclude a gesture sensor, a gyro-sensor, a pressure sensor, a magneticsensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, acolor sensor, an infrared (IR) ray sensor, a vivo sensor, a temperaturesensor, a humidity sensor, and/or an illuminance sensor.

The interface ED77 may support one or more designated protocols that maybe used in order for the electronic apparatus ED01 to be directly orwirelessly connected to another electronic apparatus (electronicapparatus ED02, etc.) The interface ED77 may include a high-definitionmultimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, anSD card interface, and/or an audio interface.

The connection terminal ED78 may include a connector by which theelectronic apparatus ED01 may be physically connected to anotherelectronic apparatus (electronic apparatus ED02, etc.). The connectionterminal ED78 may include an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD cardconnector, and/or an audio connector (headphone connector, etc.).

The haptic module ED79 may convert the electrical signal into amechanical stimulation (vibration, motion, etc.) or an electricstimulation that the user may sense through a tactile or motionsensation. The haptic module ED79 may include a motor, a piezoelectricdevice, and/or an electric stimulus device.

The camera module ED80 may capture a still image and a video. The cameramodule ED80 may include a lens assembly including one or more lenses,the image sensor 1000 of FIG. 1, image signal processors, and/orflashes. The lens assembly included in the camera module ED80 maycollect light emitted from an object that is an object to be captured.

The power management module ED88 may manage the power supplied to theelectronic apparatus ED01. The power management module ED88 may beimplemented as a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery ED89 may supply electric power to components of theelectronic apparatus ED01. The battery ED89 may include a primarybattery that is not rechargeable, a secondary battery that isrechargeable, and/or a fuel cell.

The communication module ED90 may support establishment of a direct(wired) communication channel and/or a wireless communication channelbetween the electronic apparatus ED01 and another electronic apparatus(electronic apparatus ED02, electronic apparatus ED04, server ED08,etc.), and execution of communication through the establishedcommunication channel. The communication module ED90 may be operatedindependently from the processor ED20 (application processor, etc.), andmay include one or more communication processors that support the directcommunication and/or the wireless communication. The communicationmodule ED90 may include a wireless communication module ED92 (cellularcommunication module, a short-range wireless communication module, aglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) and/or awired communication module ED94 (local area network (LAN) communicationmodule, a power line communication module, etc.). From among thecommunication modules, a corresponding communication module maycommunicate with another electronic apparatus via a first network ED09(short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi direct, orinfrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network ED99 (long-rangecommunication network such as a cellular network, Internet, or computernetwork (LAN, WAN, etc.)). Such above various kinds of communicationmodules may be integrated as one element (single chip, etc.) or may beimplemented as a plurality of elements (a plurality of chips) separatelyfrom one another. The wireless communication module ED92 may identifyand authenticate the electronic apparatus ED01 in a communicationnetwork such as the first network ED98 and/or the second network ED99 byusing subscriber information (international mobile subscriber identifier(IMSI), etc.) stored in the subscriber identification module ED96.

The antenna module ED97 may transmit or receive the signal and/or powerto/from outside (another electronic apparatus, etc.). An antenna mayinclude a radiator formed as a conductive pattern formed on a substrate(PCB, etc.). The antenna module ED97 may include one or more antennas.When the antenna module ED97 includes a plurality of antennas, fromamong the plurality of antennas, an antenna that is suitable for thecommunication type used in the communication network such as the firstnetwork ED98 and/or the second network ED99 may be selected by thecommunication module ED90. The signal and/or the power may betransmitted between the communication module ED90 and another electronicapparatus via the selected antenna. Another component (RFIC, etc.) otherthan the antenna may be included as a part of the antenna module ED97.

Some of the elements may be connected to one another via thecommunication method among the peripheral devices (bus, general purposeinput and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), mobileindustry processor interface (MIPI), etc.) and may exchange signals(commands, data, etc.).

The command or data may be transmitted or received between theelectronic apparatus ED01 and the external electronic apparatus ED04 viathe server ED08 connected to the second network ED99. Other electronicapparatuses ED02 and ED04 may be the devices that are the same as ordifferent kinds from the electronic apparatus ED01. All or some of theoperations executed in the electronic apparatus Ed01 may be executed inone or more devices among the other electronic apparatuses ED02, ED04,and ED08. For example, when the electronic apparatus ED01 has to performa certain function or service, the electronic apparatus ED01 may requestone or more other electronic apparatuses to perform some or entirefunction or service, instead of executing the function or service byitself. One or more electronic apparatuses receiving the request executean additional function or service related to the request and maytransfer a result of the execution to the electronic apparatus ED01. Todo this, for example, a cloud computing, a distributed computing, or aclient-server computing technique may be used.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the camera module ED80 of FIG. 22.Referring to FIG. 23, the camera module ED80 may include a lens assemblyCM10, a flash CM20, an image sensor 1000 (the image sensor 1000 of FIG.1), an image stabilizer CM40, a memory CM50 (buffer memory, etc.),and/or an image signal processor CM60. The lens assembly CM10 maycollect light emitted from an object, that is, an object to be captured.The camera module ED80 may include a plurality of lens assemblies CM10,and in this case, the camera module ED80 may include a dual cameramodule, a 360-degree camera, or a spherical camera. Some of theplurality of lens assemblies CM10 may have the same lens properties(viewing angle, focal distance, auto-focus, F number, optical zoom,etc.) or different lens properties. The lens assembly CM10 may include awide-angle lens or a telephoto lens.

The flash CM20 may emit light that is used to strengthen the lightemitted or reflected from the object. The flash CM20 may include one ormore light-emitting diodes (red-green-blue (RGB) LED, white LED,infrared LED, ultraviolet LED, etc.), and/or a Xenon lamp. The imagesensor 1000 may be the image sensor described above with reference toFIG. 1, and converts the light emitted or reflected from the object andtransferred through the lens assembly CM10 into an electrical signal toobtain an image corresponding to the object. The image sensor 1000 mayinclude one or more selected sensors from among image sensors havingdifferent properties such as an RGB sensor, a black-and-white (BW)sensor, an IR sensor, and a UV sensor. Each of the sensors included inthe image sensor 1000 may be implemented as a charge coupled device(CCD) sensor and/or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)sensor.

The image stabilizer CM40, in response to a motion of the camera moduleED80 or the electronic apparatus ED01 including the camera module ED80,moves one or more lenses included in the lens assembly CM10 or the imagesensor 1000 in a certain direction or controls the operatingcharacteristics of the image sensor 1000 (adjusting of a read-outtiming, etc.) in order to compensate for a negative influence of themotion. The image stabilizer CM40 may sense the movement of the cameramodule ED80 or the electronic apparatus ED01 by using a gyro sensor (notshown) or an acceleration sensor (not shown) arranged in or out of thecamera module ED80. The image stabilizer CM40 may be implemented as anoptical type.

The memory CM50 may store some or entire data of the image obtainedthrough the image sensor 1000 for next image processing operation. Forexample, when a plurality of images are obtained at a high speed,obtained original data (Bayer-patterned data, high resolution data,etc.) is stored in the memory CM50, and a low resolution image is onlydisplayed. Then, original data of a selected image (user selection,etc.) may be transferred to the image signal processor CM60. The memoryCM50 may be integrated with the memory ED30 of the electronic apparatusED01, or may include an additional memory that is operatedindependently.

The image signal processor CM60 may perform image treatment on the imageobtained through the image sensor 1000 or the image data stored in thememory CM50. The image treatments may include a depth map generation, athree-dimensional modeling, a panorama generation, extraction offeatures, an image combination, and/or an image compensation (noisereduction, resolution adjustment, brightness adjustment, blurring,sharpening, softening, etc.). The image signal processor CM60 mayperform controlling (exposure time control, read-out timing control,etc.) of the elements (image sensor 1000, etc.) included in the cameramodule ED80. The image processed by the image signal processor CM60 maybe stored again in the memory CM50 for additional process, or may beprovided to an external element of the camera module ED80 (e.g., thememory ED30, the display device ED60, the electronic apparatus ED02, theelectronic apparatus ED04, the server ED08, etc.). The image signalprocessor CM60 may be integrated with the processor ED20, or may beconfigured as an additional processor that is independently operatedfrom the processor ED20. When the image signal processor CM60 isconfigured as an additional processor separately from the processorED20, the image processed by the image signal processor CM60 undergoesthrough an additional image treatment by the processor ED20 and then maybe displayed on the display device ED60.

Also, the image signal processor CM60 may receive two photosensitivesignals independently from the opposite edges spaced apart from eachother in each pixel of the image sensor 1000, and may generate anauto-focusing signal from a difference between the two photosensitivesignals. The image signal processor CM60 may control the lens assemblyCM10 so that the focus of the lens assembly CM10 may be accuratelyformed on the surface of the image sensor 1000 based on theauto-focusing signal.

The electronic apparatus ED01 may include a plurality of camera modulesED80 having different properties or functions. In this case, one of theplurality of camera modules ED80 may include a wide-angle camera andanother camera module ED80 may include a telephoto camera. Similarly,one of the plurality of camera modules ED80 may include a front cameraand another camera module ED80 may include a rear camera.

The image sensor 1000 according to the embodiments may be applied to amobile phone or a smartphone 1100 m shown in FIG. 24, a tablet or asmart tablet 1200 shown in FIG. 25, a digital camera or a camcorder 1300shown in FIG. 26, a laptop computer 1400 shown in FIG. 27, or atelevision or a smart television 1500 shown in FIG. 28. For example, thesmartphone 1100 m or the smart tablet 1200 may include a plurality ofhigh-resolution cameras each including a high-resolution image sensor.Depth information of objects in an image may be extracted, out focusingof the image may be adjusted, or objects in the image may beautomatically identified by using the high-resolution cameras.

Also, the image sensor 1000 may be applied to a smart refrigerator 1600shown in FIG. 29, a surveillance camera 1700 shown in FIG. 30, a robot1800 shown in FIG. 31, a medical camera 1900 shown in FIG. 32, etc. Forexample, the smart refrigerator 1600 may automatically recognize food inthe refrigerator by using the image sensor, and may notify the user ofan existence of a certain kind of food, kinds of food put into or takenout, etc. through a smartphone. Also, the surveillance camera 1700 mayprovide an ultra-high-resolution image and may allow the user torecognize an object or a person in the image even in dark environment byusing high sensitivity. The robot 1900 may be input to a disaster orindustrial site that a person may not directly access, to provide theuser with high-resolution images. The medical camera 1900 may providehigh-resolution images for diagnosis or surgery, and may dynamicallyadjust a field of view.

Also, the image sensor 1000 may be applied to a vehicle 2000 as shown inFIG. 33. The vehicle 2000 may include a plurality of vehicle cameras2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040 at various locations. Each of the vehiclecameras 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040 may include the image sensoraccording to the one or more embodiments. The vehicle 2000 may provide adriver with various information about the interior of the vehicle 2000or the periphery of the vehicle 2000 by using the plurality of vehiclecameras 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040, and may provide the driver with theinformation necessary for the autonomous travel by automaticallyrecognizing an object or a person in the image.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should beconsidered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodimentshould typically be considered as available for other similar featuresor aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the figures, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image sensor comprising: a sensor substrateincluding a plurality of first pixels configured to sense light of afirst wavelength and a plurality of second pixels configured to senselight of a second wavelength that is different from the firstwavelength; and a color separating lens array configured to condense thelight of the first wavelength onto the plurality of first pixels andcondense the light of the second wavelength onto the plurality of secondpixels, wherein each of the first pixels includes a plurality ofphotosensitive cells that are two-dimensionally arranged in a firstdirection and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,the plurality of photosensitive cells being configured to independentlysense incident light, and from among the plurality of first pixels, afirst pixel of a first group includes a first edge region and a secondedge region that are arranged at opposite edges of the first pixel inthe first direction, the first pixel of the first group being configuredto output a first photosensitive signal and a second photosensitivesignal with respect to the incident light on the first edge region andthe second edge region.
 2. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein adistance between the first edge region and the second edge region in thefirst direction is equal to or greater than a width of the first edgeregion in the first direction.
 3. The image sensor of claim 2, whereinthe first pixel of the first group is further configured to output athird photosensitive signal with respect to light incident on a regionbetween the first edge region and the second edge region.
 4. The imagesensor of claim 2, wherein the first pixel of the first group is furtherconfigured to not output a photosensitive signal with respect to lightincident on a region between the first edge region and the second edgeregion.
 5. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofphotosensitive cells in the first pixel of the first group include afirst photosensitive cell and a second photosensitive cell that arearranged in the first direction.
 6. The image sensor of claim 5, whereineach of the first photosensitive cell and the second photosensitive cellincludes a first photodiode and a second photodiode that are arranged inthe first direction, the first photodiode of the first photosensitivecell is arranged in the first edge region and the second photodiode ofthe second photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edge region,and the first pixel of the first group is configured to output the firstphotosensitive signal from the first photodiode of the firstphotosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal from the secondphotodiode of the second photosensitive cell.
 7. The image sensor ofclaim 5, wherein each of the first photosensitive cell and the secondphotosensitive cell includes one photodiode, and the first pixel of thefirst group includes a mask pattern configured to block a firstremaining region in the photodiode of the first photosensitive cell, thefirst remaining region being different from the first edge region in alight-receiving surface of the photodiode of the first photosensitivecell, and configured to block a second remaining region in thephotodiode of the second photosensitive cell, the second remainingregion being different from the second edge region in a light-receivingsurface of the photodiode of the second photosensitive cell.
 8. Theimage sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of photosensitive cellsin the first pixel of the first group include a first photosensitivecell, a second photosensitive cell, and a third photosensitive cell thatare sequentially arranged in the first direction.
 9. The image sensor ofclaim 8, wherein each of the first photosensitive cell, the secondphotosensitive cell and the third photosensitive cell include onephotodiode, the first photosensitive cell is arranged in the first edgeregion and the third photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edgeregion, and the first pixel of the first group is configured to outputthe first photosensitive signal from the first photosensitive cell andthe second photosensitive signal from the third photosensitive cell. 10.The image sensor of claim 8, wherein each of the first photosensitivecell and third photosensitive cell includes a first photodiode and asecond photodiode that are arranged in the first direction, the firstphotodiode of the first photosensitive cell is arranged in the firstedge region and the second photodiode of the third photosensitive cellis arranged in the second edge region, and the first pixel of the firstgroup is configured to output the first photosensitive signal from thefirst photodiode of the first photosensitive cell and the secondphotosensitive signal from the second photodiode of the thirdphotosensitive cell.
 11. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein theplurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the first groupinclude a first photosensitive cell, a second photosensitive cell, athird photosensitive cell, and a fourth photosensitive cell that aresequentially arranged in the first direction.
 12. The image sensor ofclaim 11, wherein each of the first photosensitive cell, the secondphotosensitive cell, the third photosensitive cell and fourthphotosensitive cell include one photodiode, the first photosensitivecell is arranged in the first edge region and the fourth photosensitivecell is arranged in the second edge region, and the first pixel of thefirst group is configured to output the first photosensitive signal fromthe first photosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal fromthe fourth photosensitive cell.
 13. The image sensor of claim 11,wherein each of the first photosensitive cell, the second photosensitivecell, the third photosensitive cell and fourth photosensitive cellincludes a first photodiode and a second photodiode that are arranged inthe first direction, the first photodiode of the first photosensitivecell is arranged in the first edge region and the second photodiode ofthe fourth photosensitive cell is arranged in the second edge region,and the first pixel of the first group is configured to output the firstphotosensitive signal from the first photodiode of the firstphotosensitive cell and the second photosensitive signal from the secondphotodiode of the fourth photosensitive cell.
 14. The image sensor ofclaim 1, wherein, from among the plurality of first pixels, a firstpixel of a second group includes a third edge region and a fourth edgeregion that are arranged at opposite edges of the first pixel of thesecond group in the second direction and is configured to output a thirdphotosensitive signal with respect to light incident on the third edgeregion and a fourth photosensitive signal with respect to light incidenton the fourth edge region.
 15. The image sensor of claim 14, wherein theplurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the second groupinclude a first photosensitive cell, a second photosensitive cell, and athird photosensitive cell that are sequentially arranged in the seconddirection, each of the first photosensitive cell, the secondphotosensitive cell and the third photosensitive cell includes onephotodiode, the first photosensitive cell is arranged in the third edgeregion and the third photosensitive cell is arranged in the fourth edgeregion, and the first pixel of the second group is configured to outputthe third photosensitive signal from the first photosensitive cell andthe fourth photosensitive signal from the third photosensitive cell. 16.The image sensor of claim 14, wherein, from among the plurality of firstpixels, a first pixel of a third group includes a first apex region anda second apex region at opposite sides in a diagonal direction, thefirst pixel of the third group being configured to output a fifthphotosensitive signal with respect to light incident on the first apexregion and sixth photosensitive signal with respect to light incident onthe second apex region.
 17. The image sensor of claim 16, wherein theplurality of photosensitive cells in the first pixel of the third groupinclude a first photosensitive cell at a first apex of the first pixel,a second photosensitive cell adjacent to the first photosensitive cellin the first direction, a third photosensitive cell adjacent to thefirst photosensitive cell in the second direction, a fourthphotosensitive cell arranged at a second apex of the first pixel, afifth photosensitive cell adjacent to the fourth photosensitive cell inthe first direction, and a sixth photosensitive cell adjacent to thefourth photosensitive cell in the second direction, each of the firstphotosensitive cell, the second photosensitive cell, the third,photosensitive cell, the fourth photosensitive cell, the fifthphotosensitive cell and the sixth photosensitive cell include onephotodiode, the first photosensitive cell, the second photosensitivecell, and the third photosensitive cell are arranged in the first apexregion and the fourth photosensitive cell, the fifth photosensitivecell, and the sixth photosensitive cell are arranged in the second apexregion, and the first pixel of the third group is configured to outputthe fifth photosensitive signal from the first photosensitive cell, thesecond photosensitive cell, the third, photosensitive cell and the sixthphotosensitive signal from the fourth photosensitive cell, the fifthphotosensitive cell, and the sixth photosensitive cell.
 18. The imagesensor of claim 16, wherein, in an entire area of the image sensor, thefirst pixel of the first group is arranged in a first region in thefirst direction, the first pixel of the second group is arranged in asecond region in the second direction, and the first pixel of the thirdgroup is arranged in a third region in the diagonal direction.
 19. Theimage sensor of claim 1, wherein a distance between the sensor substrateand the color separating lens array is about 30% to about 70% of a focaldistance of the color separating lens array with respect to the light ofthe first wavelength.
 20. The image sensor of claim 1, furthercomprising a spacer layer arranged between the sensor substrate and thecolor separating lens array to form a distance between the sensorsubstrate and the color separating lens array.
 21. The image sensor ofclaim 1, wherein the color separating lens array includes a firstwavelength light condensing region configured to condense the light ofthe first wavelength onto the first pixels and a second wavelength lightcondensing region configured to condense the light of the secondwavelength onto the second pixels, and an area of the first wavelengthlight condensing region is greater than an area of the first pixel amongthe plurality of first pixels and an area of the second wavelength lightcondensing region is greater than an area of a second pixel among theplurality of second pixels, and the first wavelength light condensingregion partially overlaps the second wavelength light condensing region.22. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the color separating lens arrayincludes: a first pixel region arranged at a position corresponding toeach of the first pixels; and a second pixel region arranged at aposition corresponding to each of the second pixels, wherein adifference between phases of the light of the first wavelength that haspassed through a center of the first pixel region and the light of thefirst wavelength that has passed through the second pixel region isabout 0.9π to about 1.1π.
 23. An electronic apparatus comprising: animage sensor configured to convert an optical image into an electricalsignal; a processor configured to control operations of the image sensorand to store and output a signal generated by the image sensor; and alens assembly for providing light from an object to the image sensor,wherein the image sensor comprises: a sensor substrate including aplurality of first pixels configured to sense light of a firstwavelength and a plurality of second pixels configured to sense light ofa second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength; and acolor separating lens array configured to condense the light of thefirst wavelength onto the plurality of first pixels and condense thelight of the second wavelength onto the plurality of second pixels,wherein each of the first pixels includes a plurality of photosensitivecells that are two-dimensionally arranged in a first direction and asecond direction perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality ofphotosensitive cells being configured to independently sense incidentlight, and from among the plurality of first pixels, a first pixel of afirst group includes a first edge region and a second edge region thatare arranged at opposite edges of the first pixel in the firstdirection, the first pixel of the first group being configured to outputa first photosensitive signal and a second photosensitive signal withrespect to the incident light on the first edge region and the secondedge region, and the processor is further configured to generate anauto-focusing signal based on a difference between the first and secondphotosensitive signals.